Forest Bathing in Temple and Enjoy onsen with healing power

Slow down in the cedar forest. This six-hour outing from Odawara combines a peaceful walk through old-growth trees, a visit to Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, and time in a mountain onsen. I like the thoughtful mix of exercise and rest, and I like that the guide adds local folklore instead of simply pointing at buildings. The main drawback is cost planning: the $104.51 tour price does not include transportation, lunch, or the onsen fee.

You meet at Odawara Station at 9 a.m. and travel by train and bus toward Minamiashigara, the guide’s home area. The outing suits you best if you want a slower rural experience rather than another crowded city attraction. You should also be comfortable walking uphill and dressing for cooler forest conditions.

Key points to know before you book

• Ancient cedar and cypress forest: Walk beneath trees said to be more than 500 years old on the approach to the temple.
• Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple: Explore a religious site with roughly 600 years of history, wooden buildings, and local folklore.
• Onsen after the walk: Finish the active part of the day with a hot spring soak near the temple, an important part of the tour’s rhythm.
• Small group setting: The group is limited to six people, and the guide can tailor the pace and conversation to your interests.
• Extra costs matter: Plan for about 2,000 yen for lunch, about 2,000 yen for the onsen, plus transportation.
• Odawara convenience: The tour starts and ends at Odawara Station, where luggage storage is available.

Why this Odawara outing feels different

Odawara is often treated as a stop on the way to Hakone or other famous destinations. This experience gives you a reason to pause there. Instead of packing another major sight into your day, you head into the wooded hills of Kanagawa and spend time in a setting shaped by religion, trees, and hot spring bathing.

I like the balance. The morning involves walking and a little public transportation, while the afternoon rewards you with lunch and an onsen. That makes the day feel more like a small reset than a checklist of sights.

The forest is the main attraction, not a decorative backdrop. The path toward the temple passes between old cedar and cypress trees, some more than five centuries old. That age changes the character of the walk. You are not simply taking a short stroll through a landscaped park. You are walking through a mountain setting with a long connection to the temple.

The guide is also central to the experience. Akihiro-san led one outing and adjusted it to suit the participant’s interests. His background as a nationally certified guide, along with wilderness first aid certification, adds useful reassurance on a wooded route. The group limit of six should also make it easier to ask questions or set a comfortable pace.

Meeting at Odawara Station at 9 a.m.

The meeting point is Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station. This is a practical place to begin because Odawara is well connected, and the tour returns there at the end of the day.

You should arrive ready to leave at 9 a.m. Since transportation is not included, the guide will organize or explain the public transport portion for your group, but you pay those fares separately. The route includes a train and a bus, so this is not a private car excursion from station to temple.

Odawara Station also has luggage storage. That is useful if you are checking out of a hotel, changing towns, or carrying more than you want on a forest walk. Still, bring only what you need for the day. Comfortable walking shoes are important, and warm clothing is recommended for the forest.

The wording about warm clothes deserves attention. Even if the day begins pleasantly, wooded mountain areas can feel cooler than the station or city streets. The walk is not described as a strenuous trek, and most people can participate, but this is still an active half-day rather than a fully seated sightseeing trip.

Walking beneath 500-year-old trees

The forest walk leads up toward Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple. Its appeal comes from the age and scale of the trees, especially the cedar and cypress. These trees create the quiet conditions needed for the tour’s forest bathing theme.

Forest bathing here is not presented as a formal medical treatment. It is a calm walk in a wooded setting, with time to notice the air, shade, tree trunks, and changing pace of the route. The value is simple: you spend less time looking at a screen and more time moving through an old forest.

I would choose this tour for the walking section alone if I wanted a break from crowded urban routes. The temple gives the walk a clear purpose, while the guide helps connect the forest to the place’s religious traditions and stories.

You should not expect a fast hike. The experience is built around the path, the trees, and conversation. If you want a demanding mountain climb or sweeping views from a summit, this is probably not the right choice. If you prefer a gentle route with cultural meaning, it fits much better.

Discovering Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple

Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, also known as Doryoson, is the cultural center of the day. The temple has a history of about 600 years, giving the walk a strong sense of arrival. After passing through the forest, you reach a religious complex made with cedar and cypress wood, with shrines and temple buildings to explore.

The guide explains local folklore connected with the temple. That detail matters because the buildings alone may not tell you how the site is understood by people who live nearby. Stories give the place a human voice and help you notice more than architecture.

The temple is also a good setting for travelers who prefer smaller cultural sites to major headline attractions. You are not simply taking a photograph and moving on. The route, trees, buildings, and stories are tied together.

Admission to the temple is listed as free, which keeps the main sightseeing portion affordable. You should still budget for transport, food, and the hot spring. The lack of an admission charge does not mean the day has no extra expenses.

Lunch at a forest tea house

Lunch is usually taken at a nearby temple cafe or tea house in the forest area. The expected cost is around 2,000 yen per person, and that payment is separate from the tour.

This meal is one of the pleasant details of the outing. Rather than returning to a station district for a quick meal, you eat near the temple and stay connected to the wooded setting. Japanese lunch is offered, and the tea house is also known locally for its Japanese confectionery.

The guide indicates that lunch may sometimes take place at the onsen facility instead. That gives the day a little flexibility, but it also means you should not expect one fixed dining room or menu every time. If food is important to you, ask about the planned lunch location when you book.

The meal is not included, so bring enough yen or confirm accepted payment methods before setting out. Alcohol and souvenirs are also personal expenses. The tour price covers the guide service, not every purchase made during the day.

Soaking in a healing hot spring

After the walk and lunch, you visit an onsen near the temple. The facility is associated with Toji Onsen, a traditional hot spring practice linked with rest and body care. The tour describes the water as having healing qualities, but you should treat this as a cultural and relaxation experience rather than a medical service.

The timing is smart. A warm bath after walking through the forest gives the day a clear second half. You work your legs in the morning, then sit back and let the pace slow down.

The onsen fee is around 2,000 yen per person and is not included. Bring what you need for bathing, and remember that Japanese onsen customs apply. The supplied information does not specify details such as towel rental, bathing hours, or bathing restrictions, so ask the guide or facility about those points if they matter to you.

Because the onsen is part of the tour’s appeal, check that you are comfortable with the usual hot spring format before booking. If you do not want to bathe, the experience may offer less value, since the onsen is the main closing activity after the forest and temple visit.

What the $104.51 price really covers

At $104.51 per person, this is not a bargain transport-and-sightseeing trip. You also pay for lunch, transportation, and roughly 2,000 yen for the onsen. Once those extras are added, the total cost is noticeably higher than the advertised tour price.

The value comes from the guide and the small-group format. You are paying for a national certified guide with wilderness first aid training, local access to a lesser-known rural route, and a day arranged around the relationship between forest, temple, food, and hot spring.

A group of no more than six is another reason the cost may make sense. In a larger group, a quiet forest walk can become a noisy procession. Here, the guide can respond to your interests, as Akihiro-san did when leading a solo participant. That personal attention is especially useful if you want more folklore, more nature discussion, or a gentler pace.

Group discounts are available, though the exact discount is not stated. Ask for the current terms if you are booking with friends or family. For a solo visitor, the price may feel high. For a small group that values local guiding and an organized rural outing, it is easier to justify.

Who should choose this experience

I would recommend this tour to you if you want:

• A quiet day outside central Odawara
• A guided forest walk rather than an independent temple visit
• Old cedar and cypress trees
• Local folklore and cultural explanation
• A traditional Japanese lunch setting
• An onsen experience after walking
• A small group with a maximum of six people

It is less suitable if you want a private vehicle, a highly active hike, a large number of famous landmarks, or a tour with nearly everything included in the upfront price.

The forest can be hot and humid in summer. One outing took place on a hot summer day, yet the later rinse and soak made the finish feel refreshing. That is a useful clue for planning: summer may be comfortable in the bath but tiring on the walk. Bring water and dress for the forecast, while remembering the specific advice to wear comfortable shoes and warm clothes for the forest.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but you should be honest about your walking ability. The tour includes an uphill path, public transport, and bathing at the end.

Booking, weather, and the final decision

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity usually sells around 47 days ahead, so advance planning is sensible. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

That weather rule matters because the forest walk is essential to the day. Check the forecast before committing, especially if you are building a tight Japan itinerary.

I would book this experience if you have a free day based in or near Odawara and want something slower, quieter, and more local than a standard city tour. The best parts are the old forest, the temple stories, and the well-timed onsen finish. Just add the extra costs to your budget and arrive prepared for walking.

If you want a low-cost activity or prefer sightseeing without a bath, skip it. For everyone else, this is a thoughtful six-hour outing that turns Odawara into more than a transit stop.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Beck’s Coffee on the third floor of Odawara Station, at 9 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The experience ends back at Odawara Station.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately six hours.

What temple does the tour visit?

The tour visits Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, also called Doryoson, in the Minamiashigara area.

Is admission to the temple included?

Admission to the temple is listed as free.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch costs around 2,000 yen per person and is paid separately. It may be served at a Japanese tea house near the temple or at the onsen facility.

Is the onsen fee included?

No. The onsen costs around 2,000 yen per person and is paid separately.

Is transportation included?

No. You pay the transportation fee for your group separately. The route uses a train and bus from Odawara.

How large is the group?

The activity has a maximum of six participants. Group discounts are available.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes for the forest. Odawara Station has luggage storage if you need to leave bags before the tour.

Can service animals participate?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.